Taj Mahal's maintenance has become a joke: SC tears into UP government

Taj Mahal's maintenance has become a joke: SC tears into UP government

Prominent cracks have appeared on several of the monument’s carved marble panels.

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Harish V Nair

New Delhi

July 27, 2018

UPDATED: July 27, 2018 08:50 IST

The SC was particularly angry as it found that 1,167 polluting industries still functioned from the Taj Trapezium Zone (TTZ), in clear violation of several of its orders.

HIGHLIGHTS

SC slams UP govt over dilapidated condition of Taj

1,167 polluting industries still functioned from Taj Trapezium Zone

The bench has lashed at state govt previously also

In its sharpest ever attack on the Uttar Pradesh government, Centre and Archaeological Survey of India on the issue of the once-pristine Taj Mahal now acquiring a dirty hue, the Supreme Court said on Thursday that it will be an embarrassment if the UNESCO withdraws its World Heritage tag accorded to the iconic ivorywhite marble mausoleum.

The court was particularly angry as it found that 1,167 polluting industries still functioned from the Taj Trapezium Zone (TTZ) in clear violation of several of its orders and there was no authority to own up to this. We hope it doesnt happen.

But what if UNESCO withdraws Tajs world heritage tag considering the present situation? It will be such an embarrassment. Who is responsible? Decide amongst yourselves, the bench of Justices Madan B Lokur and Deepak Gupta said. Please act before something like this happens, they said.

It (upkeep and maintenance) has become a joke. You better make a comedy show out of it. There is multiplicity of authorities UP government, tourism ministry, environment ministry, ASI but no one does anything. The left hand does not know what the right hand is doing, said Justice Lokur.

The court was indignant as there were no convincing answers from a huge battery of lawyers present in the courtroom, including attorney general KK Venugopal, as to who was the authority in charge of the upkeep of Taj Mahal or to ensure that court orders were being complied with pertaining to the Taj Trapezium Zone (TTZ).

Justice Lokur was also angry as the ASI was not consulted when the UP government worked on the draft vision document aimed at restoring the Taj to its pristine glory.

Slamming the way authorities shirked responsibility on each and every aspect of Taj Mahal and Taj Trapezium Zone, the court said it wanted to know by July 31 who exactly is the agency responsible for upkeep of both the Taj and TTZ.

Everybody keeps filing affidavits UP government, tourism ministry, environment ministry, ASI and even home ministry citing security issues, but no one is ready to take responsibility when we ask a question, said Justice Lokur.

Hinting that it might even outsource the maintenance of Taj Mahal to private parties and conservationists, the SC judges asked the UP government to give copies of the vision document to INTACH, Aga Khan Foundation, ICOMOS for inviting their comments.

Submitting a vision document to protect the Taj, the UP government on Wednesday told the Supreme Court today that the entire precinct of the Mughal- era monument should be declared a no-plastic zone and all polluting industries in the region closed.

The state government had filed the first draft report of a vision document on protection and preservation of the 17th century monument.

The bench had earlier lashed out at the government for having no plan to save the iconic site which has become discoloured due to pollution. The draft vision document also said roads along the Yamuna riverfront should be planned so traffic is limited and pedestrian movement encouraged.